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Concrete
My research into cement and concrete was inspired by a collaboration with the firm CREARTE, specializing in casting artificial rocks and natural textures for zoos and interiors. I was fascinated by the material's ability to faithfully replicate any shape down to the smallest detail and the rapid setting time of certain mixtures, sometimes as short as fifteen minutes.
This experience led me to explore cement in my own practice. Initial samples focused on physical properties—the water-to-cement ratio and the effects of external additives like soil, adhesives, or kitchen spices. Most additives resulted in non-functional clusters that merely took on the color of the ingredients. The breakthrough came with a 1:4 ratio (cement to water), creating a moldable mass with a working window of thirty minutes.
I discovered that concrete can be perceived as more than a liquid for casting; it began to resemble ceramic clay, gaining new form through manual manipulation. However, the material lacks the structural integrity to hold complex shapes like cups or vases without a core or reinforcement. While dyes and stains enrich the visual side, they do not change its physical limits.
Nevertheless, I believe I have added what concrete usually lacks: the presence of the hand. Every experiment bears the trace of time, pressure, hesitation, and certainty. This project is not the end of my work with concrete, but rather a completed chapter in its gradual unfolding.